Behind Enemy Lines: Us On Them
Here’s my breakdown, er, beat down of our AFC West rivals:
We were also interested in OT Ryan Clady, until we saw that he basically tanked his Wonderlic. He actually would have scored a 14 on the test instead of 13, but he spelled his last name with two “Ds” accidentally.
As for their receiving corps, what a mess. Darrell Jackson? That guy could drop a newborn baby in the delivery room. Keary Colbert? He hardly played in Carolina even when Steve Smith was hurt? Brandon Stokley? He had one good game–Thanksgiving day about four years ago. Must have been white boy day. Brandon Marshall? Hopefully there won’t be any McDonald’s bags on the field this season–I’m lovin’ it! Samie Parker? After watching him screw up for us for years, this will be a nice change. I wouldn’t trade Dwayne Bowe for the whole lot.
Is it just me, or does Jay Cutler look like he has Down syndrome? He did carve us up last year a little bit, though. That might be more difficult without Travis Henry around. I think ol’ Horse Face, aka Mike Shanahan, took analysts who say the Broncos can just put anyone back there a little too literally. I’m actually hoping they have as bad of a season as I’m expecting and ownership cans his ass.
The Bottom Line: The Broncos aren’t any better than us.
Despite how good Broncos and Chargers fans think their respective teams are, this is the only AFC West squad that has made a Super Bowl appearance since the dawn of the new Millennium. Too bad they’ve won like a dozen games since. Is spending a bajillion dollars on Javon Walker and Tommy Kelly really going to get the Crypt Keeper and his boy wonder coach back to the Promised Land? I don’t think so.
I do like Run DMC, but if Lane Kiffin is Robin, JaMarcus Russell is Fatman. Did he eat Daunte Culpepper? Now they’ve signed Greg Wesley? Were they trying to one-up the Broncos on the pathetic Parker signing? What’s next, the Bolts signing Kendrell Bell? I do like Nnamdi Asomugha, but it pisses me off that I have to look up his name every time. I also do like DeAngelo Hall, but not for a quarter of the U.S. defecit. You’ve got to give it to Al, however, he ain’t trying to take any of that money with him when he checks out. Not that I admire how he’s spent his change, but I do admire owners who aren’t frugal. I’ll give him that.
The Bottom Line: At least one Chiefs’ win, if not two.
They bitch and bitch and bitch about Marty Schottenheimer, then go out and sign…Norv Turner? That’s like bitching about Cuba Gooding Jr.’s acting only to replace him with L.L. Cool J. WTF? Marty, if Carl does end up getting canned, his office has your name on it. As far as I’m concerned, anyway.
As a KSU fan, I love me some Darren Sproles. But isn’t L.T. a bit of a crybaby? None of that on my fantasy team, even though he did win it all for me once. Not seeing Michael Turner over on the sidelines will be nice, but I’m not sure Sproles isn’t better, especially with back-up touches. I’m actually thinking L.T. might get hurt this year. Not that I’d wish that on anybody, but every running back has to visit the M*A*S*H unit eventually. Even him.
As for the defense, San Diegians better hope that those guys are taking their Vitamin S again. After all, Luis Castillo just got a huge raise, and they wouldn’t want to see Shawne Merriman get punked by a little guy like MJD again. That was embarrassing, son. Is Vincent Jackson finaly going to break out this year? Yeah? Really? I almost actually believe you this time.
The Bottom Line: Sure, they’ll be good. But I’ll thoroughly enjoy watching them get bounced by New England in the playoffs–again.
Let’s go ahead and have you Addicts dogpile on and add insult to injury in the comments thread! Go Chiefs!
Warning – prior thread retread:
If LT does not stay healthy, SD will struggle. As a matter of fact, if LT goes down early in the season, I’d have to say the whole division would be up for grabs at that point. Certainly Rivers is further along than Croyle, but the fact remains that Rivers has issues and still has much to prove. Also, the jury is still out on Norv Turner – he was handed a Ferrari for sure, we’ll just have to wait and see if he’s done everything required by the maintenance schedule. Last season’s slow start suggests to me that it took him a while to find the gas cap. As long our D can keep LT under a 100 and we can get Rivers to feeling a little panicky, we have an even odds shot at beating them.
Denver got a number of promising draft picks but I don’t think they did enough in the offseason to address glaring holes – particularly that suspect run defense. Considering the backfields they’ll face in just the AFC West alone, I think Denver has even more of an uphill battle this season. I would not be a bit surprised to see them land in the cellar. If that happens, say buh bye to Shanny.
I do think Lane Kiffin has the potential to be a pretty good coach and I’d love to have the player talent he has but, come on, it’s Al Davis’ Raiders and that makes it a no-win dysfunctional deal for Kiffin.
The Chiefs are a team on the rebound, Oakland will suffer because of the coaching/mgmt disconnect, and Shanahan’s performance has flagged ever since Elway retired. I’ve got to think that Oakland and Denver will be the ones slugging it out for last place and if the Chiefs can a lucky break or two, then who knows?
Off topic interesting stat I heard on the radio yesterday – the Chiefs were 9-5-2 at halftime last year. Food for thought.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:30 amI completely agree with you about the Broncos – in fact, it will not surprize me at all if they’re no better than our 2007 squad. Something is seriously wrong in ponyboyland when you have multiple deaths and player arrests/involvement in late night activities in bars.
I’ve always despised the ponyboys but I also respected them for taking care of their business away from the game. You never used to hear of their guys walking the edge of the wildside in the Mile High City. They would kick your a$$ on the field and do everything right in the community off of it. Too bad things have changed so drastically there. I’d say it’s a sign of desperation in the coaching staff being willing to overlook the gangsta’s in order to win.
I cannot say why I find such malovent bile in my mouth when I consider the Dolts. I really used to like them back when Seau first got there, and we could depend on them to play tough and lose three out of every four games to us… I like LT’s talents and think he’s probably a good guy… if not a bit immature still. But the rest of that team… all of ‘em look and act like Ryan Leaf to me. Boors!
What can anyone say about Oakland beyond Al Davis has gone completely around the bend – and the rest of the league owners and mgmt are almost gleeful to stand by and watch. I guess Al has been a servere pain in their tookus (and their wallets!) for a long time now… but it’s kind of sad to watch.
I still love watching our guys kick them to the curb – but it hasn’t had the same joy as in previous years. They are the only other team in our division getting younger and more talented though… and perhaps that’s a sign of better things to come. I most love kickin’ their a$$ when they’re supposed to be the favorites. Nothing is more satisfying.
Truthfully, if the Raiders don’t come together and make a run at the division crown, and if KC can split with the Chargers… I think we have a shot THIS year. (I know I know… stay away from the happy gas Curt…)
10 wins could take the division this year. The broncs will be lucky to finish .500, I dont think anyone expects the raiders to be better than that, and Norv Turner is a pox on all things he touches… it hasn’t happened yet in SD, but it’s not a matter of IF but when it will happen. With LT in full mope mode, Turner gone to greener pastures, and Merriman in a snit cuz someone else on that D makes more jack than him… this could be the year that D slips into average. If that happens, their Offense will be on the field a lot more and they’re not good enough to make up for a shortfall on the other side. Folks will REALLY be screaming for Marty to come back then.
July 30th, 2008 at 10:35 amGood breakdown, er a beatdown! I liked that. I agree with you in the fact that Denver just doesn’t impress me this year, regardless of what I hear from a guy at work I don’t the Donks challenging or winning the AFC West. He also is hellbent that the Donks will beat the Pats. LOL… good luck with that.
Also, nice comment Double D.
http://www.kcchiefsfootball.com
July 30th, 2008 at 10:36 amCMF-
I don’t want the Chiefs to have a shot this year. Why? We cannot beat the upper echelon teams so why even bother trying to be “competitive” if we are say 6-4 going into the stretch or something like that. I want the Chiefs to win, but I’d rather see them re-tool at least one more year, throw rooks into the fire and commit to the rebuild, not more of the same 10-6…late 1st round picks that have resulted in the mediocrity that some Chiefs fans have grown to love so much.
July 30th, 2008 at 12:33 pmCrane – You’re certainly entitled to your opinion but I can guarantee you that what you’re selling hopefully won’t find many buyers in the locker room. The time to win is always now – this game, this team, this season. That’s how champions are made and how championships are won.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:20 pmI hope one difference between those teams of the past that settled for being only above average, and never Super Bowl caliber, and the future, is that the team doesn’t rely on quick fixes to get where they need to get to. I think throughout that time bringing in garbage free agents was our biggest weakness, along with very poor draft classes. The best teams, like the Patriots, have maintained a high level because they can spot talent anywhere in the draft, and find free agents who will make an impact. A low draft pick does not ensure success.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:39 pmThe above prognostications about the division were stolen directly from my head. I’ve been thinking the Broncos are on the decline, and fast, and could never understand why the ESPN and NFL Network shouting heads actually see them as a playoff sleeper this season. The Raiders are a team that could be on the upswing, but they’ll get at most a few extra wins out of the motherlode of money they’ve spent this offseason. The Chargers, well, they’ll be getting that reverse Midas touch from Norv soon enough, but if (and I too consider it a big if) LT stays healthy, they’ll be able to rise above Al Gore’s coaching (am I the only one who think Norv looks kinda like Al Gore?).
Crane, I understand the desire to have higher picks in the 2009 draft, but there are a few holes in this desire to finish weak as I see it. #1) These kids on our team need some confidence, and if we can make the playoffs, even if its one and done, they’ll get that confidence and the playoff experience that we need if we want them to succeed in 2009 and 2010. #2) Tony G deserves at the very least a playoff win before he retires. Hell, he deserves a ring. If this team finishes 6-10, I don’t know if he comes back next season. #3) We don’t need a top five pick to get talent. Bowe was the best rookie last year and we got him with a playoff position pick from the season before. Calvin who?!?!
Once I saw the schedules, I said 11-5. I stand by it. What can I say? I like the taste of Kool Aid. Oh YEah!
July 30th, 2008 at 1:40 pmI like to think of that as the “one or two players away phenomenom,” where the team will break the bank for a guy that they think will put them over the hump. For examples, see basically all of the Chiefs signings of the past 5 years. The problem with that line of thinking is the team is fatally flawed, and just can’t do it with the personnel that is assembled. Like the high scoring Vermeil days, absolutely no defense, so defense players that were signed were expected to make a difference, and never could quite do enough.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:43 pmWhoa there Sudden, I’m hoping you meant Bowe was the best rookie receiver last year, and not best rookie. I love the guy, but lets not get carried away.
July 30th, 2008 at 1:45 pmHow about the best rookie not named Peterson?
And Al Gore could probably do a better job with the Bolts than Turner. After watching an Inconvenient Truth I really think he could. Turner’s a dipshit if you ask me.
As for commenting on 11-5, I’ll plead the Fifth.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:08 pmMy favorite thing about this comment thread so far is bigknoxy’s co-worker who thinks the Donks can beat the Pats. Talk about Rocky Mountain high. We’ve got another good one going…
July 30th, 2008 at 2:10 pmYeah, I meant to say best rookie reciever, but I sometimes get in such a flurry of typing that I leave a word out here or there.
And Al Gore was a QB in his college days, so he probably has a decent grasp on the game. I wasn’t so much a fan of “An Inconvenient Truth,” but I’ll avoid getting political here. I will say that virtually anyone would be a more competant coach than Norv.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:05 pmI want them to play well and win close games. I want them to find out they’re better than they thought. I want them to blow out teams when they are markedly more talented. I want them to make some mistakes that put them behind the eight ball early with against a great team that should beat them, and then find something deep down inside they call on to pull that one out.
What I dont want is a machavellian maneuver to ‘gain experience’ and yet hold them back just so we can get a “higher draft position”. Talk about playing for a tie! The game deserves better from those who play it than that kind of crap. If the coaches and mgmt were to pull that kind of crap on the players, the players would lose all respect for the organization.
I cannot believe a real Chiefs fan even said “I don’t want the Chiefs to have a shot this year”!!!
What utter nonsense and despicable thinking!
The Hunt family will never stand for that kind of operation, and neither will the true fans of the KC Chiefs.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:16 pmMacIntosh hurt today. Chris over on AP is reporting Damion went down this morning and the MRI is negative.
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2007/8/7/8574/79952
July 30th, 2008 at 3:37 pmI saw that. From what I’ve read, he’s fine. McIntosh sure has been disappointing since joining us, though. He’s looked like crap in camp, and now he’s getting in fights and getting hurt. C’mon, Big Dame, get it together.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:43 pmMaybe it’s time to give Richardson, Stallings or Herb Taylor a real shot at the starting job? Herb sure looked great in OTA’s.
July 30th, 2008 at 3:49 pmYeah, me and Crane have already been down this road about how a Chiefs fan could possibly want the Chiefs to lose just for a high draft pick. I personally don’t understand it, but maybe it’s just because I don’t live in Detroit.
I always want us to win. Remember, LJ, Tony G, Derrick Johnson, Tamba Hali, and Dwayne Bowe were all mid-late round picks.
July 30th, 2008 at 4:19 pmi’ve been a chiefs fan for as long as i can remember,me and my dad went to games together in the early 80’s(and ever since) I’VE NEVER WANTED THEM TO LOSE. NEVER.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:20 pmIstill think we’re 10-6 yhis year also and if things go right win the division
Last year, when we were out of the playoffs, I wanted us to lose. Especially to the Jets. Losing that meaningless game is the reason we have Glenn Dorsey. If you’re a fan, sometimes you can root for your team’s best interest instead of instant gratification.
Put it this way. It’s the difference between taking home a 5-6 from some dive bar and doing the dating legwork to land a 10.
You think Celtics fans aren’t glad they tanked two years ago and got the draft picks needed to bring in Ray Allen and K.G.? The ultimate goal is a title, and if it takes another 4-12 season to get one instead of another 10-6 season then, yeah, I agree with Crane.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:49 pmYou don’t have to necessarily root for that outcome either. Even if you root the other way, there is nothing wrong with being relieved when they don’t screw up their draft by winning a meaningless game. I’ve been a Chiefs fan for almost 30 years now, and I think the longer you are with the team and the older you get the more you understand that shortsightedness is what got us into this mess in the first place.
July 30th, 2008 at 5:53 pmi too been here almost 30 years i can KINDA see that point but the shortsightedness was on the part of upper mgmt. not with the players who won or lost the games. like someone said already you can build teams with mid 1st picks. look at the pats besides this year when was the last time theyt had a top 10 pick. they’ve done pretty good by it. maybe they had high picks years ago (bledsoe) but those guys have not contributed to their success in the past few years
July 30th, 2008 at 6:06 pmSure, but we don’t play the games, so we can also look out for our long-term best interests. I do think us losing that Jets game will eventually be huge. Probably the difference between Dorsey and Gholsten, which would be substantial. But high picks are no guarantee of winning, that is correct, It certainly gives you a better chance, though.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:18 pmin hindsight the j e t s loss WAS probably better in the long run BUT when game was on i sure as hell rooted for the W
July 30th, 2008 at 6:23 pmWe have beat the “rooting for a loss” thing to death already, so I won’t get into it.
As far as the AP link above from CMF: That’s from 2007 man. I know, it seems like this is deja vu. Here’s the only thing I’ve seen on it, from the Red Zone:
“Right tackle Damion McIntosh, who spent the morning punching linebacker Pat Thomas and having his right leg wrapped in tape and an Ace bandage, also didn’t practice Wednesday afternoon. The Chiefs didn’t release the specifics of McIntosh’s injury, but he was able to walk on it with only a slight limp.”
Personally, if DMac goes down? Fine by me. I hope he falls on Jones and takes him out while he’s at it. In this season of learning I’d rather see long term solutions playing the right side. Besides, I’ve heard that both of them have been unimpressive so far. Let some of the young bucks have a shot.
My biggest fear is that those two will play horribly throughout the preseason. We’ve seen Herm’s penchant for change during the season. He’s already said that he wants to find the starters and stick with them.
If those two suck, they’re going to suck all season long unless one (or both) goes down. At that point their replacements may have more skill, but not the time to gel with the rest of the first unit, which means bootleg and runs to the left every play!
Arg.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:29 pmHerm has said that if the line performs poorly in the preseason that he would possibly look to free agency to fix it.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:46 pmAdam, it’s one thing to root for a loss when the team is out of playoff contention, lost the last 5 or 6 games, and the offseason can’t come fast enough. It’s another thing to hope for a failure of a season before that season even starts. Besides, this team is full of young guys already. We need them to gain confidence and swagger, and the best way to do that is to compete, be in games late, and win.
July 30th, 2008 at 6:46 pmI’m not rooting for a loss people! I too want the Chiefs to have some success this year in player development…this means starting rookies and making them feel the pain of losing and thrill of winnning some games, while winning the games we should. We aren’t going to be 11-5 or 10-6, if you guys think that you’re total homers, and I’ll bet each of you a dub that we ain’t going 11-5. I’m just saying I’d rather see us take our lumps with young players just one more year…and if we are 5-5 at the 10 game mark, not break my heart again just to finish 9-7…middle of the road…same ol Chiefs man we almost had ‘em. When I say I don’t want us to have a shot, I mean I don’t want us to smell the playoffs…and not quite make it, or back in like we did against Jacksonville. We do that and we pick in the late 20’s not the mid teens next year where you guys seem to think we can pull another rabbit out of our hat in the draft.
SBC keep my name out of your mouth…you’ve lost any credibility you might have had witht the whole “its simply untrue” about the Carl p 56 year plan statement. You have no clue what you are talking about, ever.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:18 pmer…5 yr plan statement
July 30th, 2008 at 7:19 pmI’m curious to see what you guys are going to have to say when you see this makeshift Oline in action…LJ throwing fits because there’s no holes and Brodie getting sacked. Don’t mistake me I want them to do well, but IMHO…its gonna be ugly. Its gonna be so funny to see what you are saying then. I love my Chiefs thru thick and thin but its gonna be hilarious for me and Adam and a few other people on this site who are actually realists to sit back and gleefully smirk while we blare “I told ya so” on the PA.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:24 pmAnyone who wanted us to win that game against the Jets needs there head examined. That game would have cost us Glenn Dorsey. Sometimes fandom needs to have some practicality to it. Even with heart. I’ve had enough of 9-7/10-6 get our asses whipped in the playoffs. I want a Super Bowl run. Big picture, people, big picture.
I understand confidence, and I understand rooting for us to win until we are mathematically out of the playoffs. Once we have been eliminated, however, it’s a different story.
No more beating the dead horse. Just remember the analogy of the 5-6 and the 10, and then ask yourself which one you’d like to take home, no matter how much work or time it takes.
July 30th, 2008 at 7:59 pmCrane, last time I checked you STILL never found a Carl Peterson quote saying that he had a 5-year-plan. I want that quote if you’re gonna keep running your mouth, and guess what? It’s not gonna happen unless you make it up. Bob Gretz (a HIGHLY respected Chiefs journalist, unlike yourself) said himself that Carl Peterson never said he had a 5-year Super Bowl plan when he started here.
As for “no credibility”, I know plenty of people on this very site that respect my opinion. Doesn’t hurt my feelings much that you’re just too ignorant to consider anybody else’s point of view. How about you quit singling me out and then pretending that I’m attacking you? Let’s have mature discussion, not this baby shit you’ve been throwing around, especially lately.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:55 pmLet’s not get personal guys. That goes for everybody. Just want to say that before things go downhill.
And Bob Gretz is King Carl’s puppet. So, I don’t know if I trust his word or agree that he is a HIGHLY respected journalist. At the same time, I have never seen that quote. I have no clue if it does or doesn’t exist.
July 30th, 2008 at 9:59 pmApparently you didn’t read too closely on So Far So Good’s comments,
Latehit beat me to it but its right here buddy read it and weep.
Yes there was a five year plan and it can be found. A quick Google search for “Carl Peterson five year plan” of newspapers archives from the 1990s reveals the following quotes.
“I should have said, in retrospect, a five-year plan to get to the playoffs,” Peterson, 55, joked.
Kansas City Star Sep 6, 1998
Peterson jokes that as he enters his fourth year with the club, he is “about a year away” from his five-year plan to build a Super Bowl champion.
Wichita Eagle Sep 6, 1992
“I’ve taken a razzing about my five-year-plan,” Peterson said of the blueprint
July 31st, 2008 at 1:12 amKansas City, Star Aug 25, 1996
What was that you said? That’s simply untrue…is what you said. Just in case you forgot. Its not that I don’t respect your opinion, I don’t find you credible when you say things like that, you can have your opinion, but don’t debate the facts with me.
July 31st, 2008 at 1:15 amOK man whatever, just find me the quote WHEN HE STARTED that has him stating that he has a 5-year-plan to win the Super Bowl. I’ve yet to see it, and I’ve got a great feeling that I won’t. The quotes you provided are easily taken out of context.
Even if Peterson did actually make a statement about a 5-year-plan to win the Super Bowl (let’s just pretend that he did for a second) I can pretty much guarantee you it was in a casual, non-serious, non-restrictive manner. I can tell you for a fact that he never laid out an actual 5 year plan.
Prove me wrong.
July 31st, 2008 at 2:38 amI’d like to get back to the point about winning now versus using this season to position yourself for picks next season. This is the NFL and if you make the cut, you damn well better immediately compete at that level and win without regard to how many years you’ve been in the league. These guys are given their millions for a reason; there is no excuse for expecting anything short of excellence.
Success in the NFL always depends on how well a team can marginalize its mistakes with its production. With youth comes better speed, more intensity and more mistakes. With experience you get better focus and smarter play but give up some speed and intensity. What that all means is that it is possible to win with either and/or both when the attitude, chemistry, and coaching are all in sync.
As I pointed out previously, last season’s Chiefs were 9-5-2 at halftime. I find that to be a pretty stunning stat considering how they ended up. The primary reason they ended up 4-12 is because they lacked a running game. If their running game returns, as I believe it will, then understand that we’re looking at a competitive team. And when I say competitive, I mean potentially championship caliber. Look around at this team and tell me that we don’t have, not just a couple, but several playmakers capable of making it done at that level? Imagine if we add a couple more to that collection?
The elements that made this a 9-5-2 halftime team are still here and then some. The elements that allowed them to wind up a 4-12 team have been replaced by some guys that in all likelihood will perform better than their predessors. If the Chiefs play well enough to make into the playoffs this season, it means they got better as the season progressed and played particularly tough down the stretch. If they do that, then they absolutely have to be considered a contender and will indeed have earned their run at the ring.
I’ll say it again, I see no reason why this team cannot and should not win now. I’ve been a Chiefs fan since the day they came to KC so don’t try to play the youthful naivete card with me. It’s not about unrealistic optimism either. It’s called expectation.
July 31st, 2008 at 8:52 amwow, even when you get totally proved wrong and owned, you still argue like you are right. Carl said that in 89, whether you want to believe it or not.
I’ve already proved you wrong…again and again and again.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:20 amCrane – none of the quotes you posted proved anything other than that you hate Carl Peterson…1st one – “joked”, 2nd one “jokes”, third one, Carl was referencing someone else talking about the 5-year plan.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:33 amC’mon guys, Carl admitted that he had a five-year plan. I’ve been less hard on the King than most, and yet I’m still willing to admit that this five-year plan wasn’t concocted out of thin air. And I’m especially not going to listen to what Bob Gretz says about it. The King pulls his strings.
As for winning now, yes, Double D, I want to win now. But when we have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs I snap my fingers and saw awe shucks when we lose close meaningless games and end up with players like Glenn Dorsey. Guess that’s just me, though. We could have always won out the last three meaningless contests and drafted Derrick Harvey or something.
The only time I desperately want to win when we are out of contention is if we can play spoiler to our AFC West foes.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:52 amWho effing cares whether CP had a 5 yr plan 20 years ago or whether he said he did or didn’t say it? Move on. Seriously.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:52 amSo the last quote PV…when he specifically says “my five year plan”…
Doube D, I don’t really care about it, but Sean B demanded proof about what I said…because he said it was “simply untrue”. I claim otherwise and prove it, but its still not enough. Even when we find a quote from Carl joking about his 5 year plan 7 years later. I just get tired of Mr. Argumentative spewing nonsense, saying things are true and not true with no support, and no one calls him on it. Carl had a five year plan when he was hired and its “simply true”.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:59 amAdam, from a fan’s perspective, it’s one thing to say, yeah, let’s hope they lose so we get the high pick next year when you’re mathematically eliminated this year. I don’t have a problem with that unless that mentality somehow infects the team’s mindset. What I expect is for the team to play like every game matters even if it doesn’t and even though I may personally prefer a different outcome. In other words, the last thing I want to see happen is for this team to develop a losers mindset – for any reason.
That said, it is completely another thing, as a supposed fan, to say that you don’t even want them to bother trying – before the season even starts! That is some real negative bullshit and homey don’t play that.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:06 amDouble D is right. We should move on here. And I think we can all agree that Carl has had the last 15 years to win a playoff game and has failed. That’s more important than any five-year plan. He’s lucky to have a job, even if he is having a commendable offseason (other than FA).
July 31st, 2008 at 10:06 amAbsolutely never said that, Double D. If you don’t play to win, you get hurt or embarrassed. This is strictly a fan’s mentality once his team has been mathematically eliminated. Now, playing spoiler is something different. That almost replicates a playoff atmosphere, so those games are important, especially in the division. Our last three games last year weren’t like that, save maybe Tennessee. I can also see the case for closing out strong, like the Rams and Ravens did before winning it all. But you better REALLY be ready to win the next year or else all you did was save your front office a little dough on its first-rounder.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:10 amCrane – you’re perpetuating. The more this site becomes the “SeanB and Crane Show,” the more likely I’m out. Really.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:11 amI’d just like someone to come out and back me up once and a while because I know that I can’t be the only person that has some of these feelings about the Chiefs. Instead I’ve got to argue facts with Sean B who just wants someone to talk to him.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:15 amAdam – didn’t mean to imply you were saying it but the sentiment about not even trying was expressed by another poster so I was responding to both points of view. From a fan’s perspective, I can’t even imagine what it feel like to watch games when all you’re hoping for a bunch of losses so you get high draft picks next year? Talk about depressing!
July 31st, 2008 at 10:22 amNew Rule:
Crane and SBC dont talk to each other. Obviously you two don’t agree about shit. So lets just not talk to one another. Problem solved.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:51 amGREAT COMMENTS DD WELL SPOKEN
July 31st, 2008 at 11:31 amALSO THANKS ZACH
July 31st, 2008 at 11:32 amDouble D: Seriously epic comments, man. Great job.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:19 pmI know, Double D. I think we are closer in our POV on this than it originally seemed. It’s just that there was no earthly reason for us to win that Jets game last year, when it was essentially a playoff game where the loser got the better draft pick. Had we have been more fortunate in the coin flip contest, we might have even picked a spot higher.
Two years ago when we were all but eliminated from the playoffs, I was as positive as could be about our chances, pom-poms in hand. It’s just that when you are officially out, sometimes practicality needs to enter the equation.
Also, if someone hypothetically asked me this question:
Would you rather: A.) Go 9-7 two seasons in a row; or B.) Go 4-12 again followed by an 11- or 12-win season?
I’m sorry, but I’m going with option B. I’d rather wait and be a contender than get the instant, yet unsatisfying, gratification of being a pretender who backs into the playoffs. In the heat of the moment, however, it’s not really like that and who knows how things would turn out.
Personally, I’m just sick of sneaking into the playoffs and losing every time. I’m willing to go through whatever it takes to win in the playoffs, basically.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:30 pmI’d actually prefer the 9-7 two seasons in a row, but that might just be me. At least then we’re a winning football team, and could pull something out of our asses in the playoffs. Wildcards do win Super Bowls (Steelers, Giants) and just because you dominate in the regular season doesn’t mean yu’ll come away with a championship (Chargers, Patriots).
July 31st, 2008 at 1:12 pm“So the last quote PV…when he specifically says “my five year plan”…”
Carl was talking about people like YOU razzing him for this supposed “five-year plan”…my word, the Chiefs had the best record in football in the decade of the 1990’s. Do you think that maybe the reason we had little success in the playoffs might have had something to do with that guy who was coaching basically the San Diego All-Stars, and STILL couldn’t win the big one?
July 31st, 2008 at 2:31 pmKing Carl won’t be going anywhere with this kind of support. All I’m saying is that after a while, if you don’t have that ring it’s time to pack your bags. No other GM has gotten as fair of a shake as King Carl has. Period. He’s had a lot of success, but at some point if things don’t work out you go another way. That time may not be here yet, but it’s approaching.
July 31st, 2008 at 2:47 pmChiefs were also a wildcard when they won the Superbowl (way back in the first ice age).
As far as King Carl goes, the guy probably infuriates me more than not but in all fairness I do have to give him much of the credit for the reclamation and redefinition of Chiefs Nation. I also agree that the time for the winding down of his tenure is past due. A fresh approach seems in order.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:15 pmAdam, your position he should go just because they havent won a ring is lame. There’s a LOT more things you have to judge in order to evaluate a GM than just the ring. To run King Carl off just for that one reason is short-sighted and juvenile.
He’s a great GM, and there’s a reason he’s the longest tenured GM in the game today. He gets results and operates the team at a profit. As long as he continues to field a team that makes money, and he wants the job – he will be the GM in KC, and I for one am glad to know he’s there.
DD is right to lay the playoff failures of the 90’s at Marty’s feet. That’s where they belong, and his playoff records in SD and Cleveland prove it.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:39 pmI don’t think I said it, but I do tend to agree with it. Marty’s greatest weakness was his tendency to become an uberconservative ubercoach in the playoffs. The real reason Marty could no longer be HC of the Chiefs is because he lost the respect of his key players, and when you do that, you lose control of the team.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:54 pmI have no problem with Carl staying as long as he continues to focus more on the business side, and lets Kurarich, Farmer and Herm continue to call a lot of the shots when it comes to player development. There is no doubt that he’s a shrewd, competent business man, maybe too shrewd from a fan’s POV.
It’s not just that he hasn’t won a ring. He hasn’t won a playoff game in 15 years! I’m fine with him staying for now, especially with what I said above but eventually someone has to pay the price for not winning in the playoffs. It won’t be us and it certainly won’t be Clark Hunt. Carl and Herm have to make this rebuilding plan work in the next two or three years. End of story. You can’t blame Marty for Vermiel’s and Herm’s playoff losses, when they even got there.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:56 pmI would actually like him to move over to the business side permanently and hand things over to Kuharich, which I’ve said before.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:57 pmOne good draft and everyone loves you.
This show of Carl Love must be a morning requirement in the KC Chiefs offices to log on and support Darth Peterson.
I love this “He gets results and operates the team at a profit.”
You forgot to add, “at the expense of our fans and their emotions” at the end.
PV – Are you still saying there was no five year plan? Seriously?
That’s my last word on it.
July 31st, 2008 at 4:37 pmI do agree that the playoff losses are mostly laid at Marty’s feet, however.